Interesting to read some proper research finally carried out on the damage that drones can cause to commercial aircraft.
Small drones may damage helicopters but won't damage planes during take off or landing speeds. Jet engines are already designed to cope with large bird strikes, and it seems the windscreens can cope too.
Might finally start being used as a counter-reference to the press' endless scaremongering.
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Findings by the Department for Transport (DfT), British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) and the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) published today in a summary report, reveal drones weighing 400 grams could damage the windscreens of helicopters in particular. However, airliner windscreens were found to be much more resistant. It would take a heavier drone of around 2 kilograms to critically damage an airliner windscreen, and only if the airliner is flying at a high speed; not during take-off and landing.
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Drones to be registered and users to sit safety tests under new government rules - GOV.UK
Drones and manned aircraft collisions: test results - GOV.UK
(Windscreen = windshield)
Ian
YouTube / Ian in London
Small drones may damage helicopters but won't damage planes during take off or landing speeds. Jet engines are already designed to cope with large bird strikes, and it seems the windscreens can cope too.
Might finally start being used as a counter-reference to the press' endless scaremongering.
>>
Findings by the Department for Transport (DfT), British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) and the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) published today in a summary report, reveal drones weighing 400 grams could damage the windscreens of helicopters in particular. However, airliner windscreens were found to be much more resistant. It would take a heavier drone of around 2 kilograms to critically damage an airliner windscreen, and only if the airliner is flying at a high speed; not during take-off and landing.
>>
Drones to be registered and users to sit safety tests under new government rules - GOV.UK
Drones and manned aircraft collisions: test results - GOV.UK
(Windscreen = windshield)
Ian
YouTube / Ian in London